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Program Outline

Program Title: Pet Styling (320 Hours)

Students will be able to enter the pet styling field as a pet stylist with the acquired skills learned in 101, 102, & 103. The school program is designed to develop quality styling skills. The speed techniques are built into the course. The student speed will increase after entering the job market. The student will have the skills to enter the job market as a pet stylist in salons, veterinarian clinics, mobile grooming, and kennels or open their own business. As in any field the students success depends on the students desire to work and apply themselves. The student will learn the job skills listed in each subject that will develop a strong foundation to enter the job market as a pet stylist.

Program Objectives

The school’s purpose is to equip the students with a strong foundation of styling and bathing skills and customer satisfaction that will enable them to have a career in the Pet Styling Profession. The school has a proprietary license to teach the “Golden Paws Method” a proven program with many graduates in its forty year history. This program not only allows for you to develop quality styling/bathing skills but also to understand how to apply them to breed designs and individual customer requests. If you learn in an environment of professionalism, high expectations and how to make clients happy with what they like, then you will learn what makes a person a success in the pet styling/bathing field and that is our goal. As in any field the students success depends on the students desire to work and apply themselves. The student will learn the job skills listed in each subject that will develop a strong foundation to enter the job market as a pet stylist or a grooming salon manager. Relocation may be necessary from Pittsburgh, PA for employment as a pet stylist.

Admission Requirements

The student shall be at least 17 years of age and have a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent. A parental signature of consent is required for students under the age of 18. A student who has graduated from high school or has earned a GED demonstrates the ability to read at the least a 9th grade reading level according to the publishers.

Prepping 101

Curricula Description: The student will learn how to efficiently prepare the pet for the bath in this course. This will include learning time management, control positions, pet psychology, safety for pet/bather, avoiding injuries and skin irritations, prepping procedures, proper tool usage, tool maintenance, cutting toe nails, ear care and why, how to properly and humanly brush out a coat, and de-shed. The student will also be introduced to cut downs and some breed design settings.

The Prepping 101 Course will teach students the use of the following tools and procedures:

Prepping Tools

Control Positions

Safety Procedures

Shaving Procedures

Toe Nail Cutting

Ear Cleaning & Ear Care

Pre-Bath Brushing

Safety and Sanitation

De-Shedding Procedures

Bathing & Drying 102

Curricula Description: This course of the program will cover how to achieve a professionally Bathed and Dried pet. This course is very important to set the foundation to achieve quality pet styling. The student will learn how to properly apply shampoo, wash the pet, blow dry and finish brush. You will also learn use of therapeutic shampoos, control positions and how to avoid injuries and skin irritations to the pet. The student will also learn speed techniques, and anal gland expulsion.

The Bathing and Drying 102 Course will teach students the use of the following procedures:

Shampoo Procedures

Anal Gland Expulsion

Flea Treatment

Blow Drying

Finish Brushing

Therapeutic Shampoos

Styling 103

Curricula Description: The student will learn the mechanics and some of the art of pet styling. This is all about developing the students pet styling skills, such as shaving, line refinement, cut downs, outline shaping, balance & proportion, understanding breed designs and creation, and being able to apply the learned pet styling skills. The student will also learn pet communication and learn professionalism in the pet styling field.

The Styling 103 Course will teach students the following procedures:

Outline Shaping

Guide Blade Techniques

Fine Finish Techniques

Breed Designs

Straight and Curly Coats

Scissoring

Pet Handling & Psychology

Individualized Customer Request Styling

Diseases and Parasites

Prioritizing Time

Bow Application

Nail Painting

Dental Hygiene

Professionalism in the career

A Happy Pet is a Joy to Groom!

Salon Manager Responsibilities 104

Curricula Description: Students will be introduced into the concept of salon management and management responsibilities.

Understand areas of managerial responsibilities

Characteristics of a successful manager

Internal and external working relationships

Creating a Successful Support Staff 105

Curricula Description:Students will be instructed on how to create a stable and skilled support staff with minimal turnover that is essential to having a successful pet styling salon.

Create job descriptions

Learn the essentials of an employee handbook

Employee training

Developing a reward system

Hiring the Support Staff 106

Curricula Description:Students will be instructed on the hiring process.

Sources of job candidates

Job applications

How to conduct interviews

Checking references

Conduct job evaluation testing

Evaluate candidate

Make an employment offer

Developing an Effective Supervisory System 107

Curricula Description:The student will learn that improving supervisory skills is an effective way to promote the growth and profitability of the pet styling salon.

Effective communication with the support staff

Improving and maintaining employment moral

Benefits of support staff meetings

Common performance problems

How to conduct a job performance evaluation

Procedures for involuntary employee termination

Procedures for voluntary departures

Developing a Safety Program 108

Curricula Description: The student will learn that a safety program is an essential component of a professionally managed pet styling salon.

Pet handling safety

Equipment safety

Fire safety

Chemical safety

Emergency procedures

Daily Bookkeeping 109

Curricula Description: The student will learn a method of accurate and complete bookkeeping of records.

Daily handling of cash and credit card receipts

Managers daily summary

Methods of recording service performed to pets

Weekly employee time keeping record

Controlling the salon’s supplies inventory

Understanding Financial Statements 110

Curricula Description: The student will learn the significance of a pro-forma profit and loss statement, as well as elements of the income statements and balance sheets.

Income statement

Balance sheet

Financial analysis ratios

Summary of financial performance

About Pet Grooming

Pet Grooming requires an enormous amount of patience and committed safety to the pet. Therefore, the student must be physically and mentally prepared to work with sharp instruments and accept helpful criticism. A student will be on their feet 90-100% of the day and will be required to lift dogs up to 40#. Student is not covered under workman’s comp or any other compensation for injuries occurred during school hours.